Aggressors on the March Chapter 15, section 4

World Drifts Towards War Democracy Struggles in Japan 1920s Japan is more democratic 1922 sign a treaty respecting China’s boarders 1928 sign the Kellogg-Briand Pact

Japan The Parliamentary system had problems Constitution put strict limits on the prime minister and cabinet Civilian leaders had little to no control over the military The military reports to the emperor

Militarists Take Control of Japan When the Global Depression hit Japan in 1930 the government was to blame The military gains support and soon takes over The militarists did not want a new government they just went to the traditional system of the emperor as leader

Japan Invades Manchuria Lots of Japanese business investments in Manchuria In 1931 Japan invades This was the first direct challenge to the League of Nations The League (which Japan was a member of) vigorously protested, but they could do nothing Japan withdraws from the League in 1933

Japan Invades China Four years later, a boarder incident set into motion Japan’s invasion of China July 1937 Japan and China exchange shots at a railroad bridge Japan took this as war and invaded Jiang Jieshi (Kai Shek) had 1 million soldiers but they were no match for the Japanese They took over many northern Chinese cities including Nanjing They killed tens of thousands of troops and civilians this event is later called “the rape of Nanjing”

Mussolini Attacks Ethiopia With the League of Nations failing to stop Japan, this emboldened Mussolini to expand He wanted a colonial empire in Africa (like Britain and France) Ethiopia was the last independent nation in Africa and had stopped an Italian take over in the 1890s May 1935 Italy attacks, and wins, quickly The leader of Ethiopia Haile Selassie pleaded to the League for help but nothing happened Appeasement was Britain and Frances goal

Hitler Defies Versailles Treaty Hitler said he would It limited the size of the German army Hitler rebuilds it and the League is upset No troops in the Rhineland Hitler moves troops in France and Britain appeased Hitler Hitler stated that if France and Britain challenged him in the Rhineland he would have stepped down Hitler is emboldened by the weak response In 1936 Japan, Germany, and Italy become the Axis Powers

Civil War in Spain In 1931 Spain went from an monarchy to a republic Francisco Franco became the leader of the fascist movement Hitler and Mussolini sent troops and tanks to support Franco The Nationalist (fascist) vs. Republicans (democratic) Franco wins after a 3 year civil war

Western Democracies Fail to Halt Aggression Why did no one stop the 1930s fascist rise? WWI created fear of war Many countries are reeling from Depression U.S.A. becomes an isolationist state German Reich Expands into Austria and Czechoslovakia (Third Reich = German Empire) Combining Germany and Austria was against the Treaty of Versailles The Czechs asked for help

Britain and France Choose Appeasement Britain and France were about to go to war Mussolini calls for a meeting in Munich The Munich Conference Germany received the Sudetenland region of Czech but would respect the new boards Explain What happened to the League? Less than six months later Germany takes all of Czech

Nazis and Soviets Sign Nonaggression Pact Britain and France turn to the U.S.S.R. for help in stopping Hitler They talked and then Stalin went to Hitler U.S.S.R. and Germany come to an agreement not to attack each other This allows the Axis powers uncheck power in Europe and Asia